Adding, subtracting, and accounting machine



June 2, 1942. R. w. FLETCHER 7 ADDING, SUBTRACTING, AND ACCOUNTING MACHINE Filed July 11, 1956 13 Sheets-Sheet l June 2, 1942. R. w. FLETCHER 2,285,153

ADDING, SUBTRACTING, AND ACCOUNTING MACHINE Filed July 11, 1936 13 Sheets-Sheet 2 m J 1 "W R. W. FLETCHER Filed July 11, 1936 13 Sheets-Sheet 3 ADDING, SUBTRACTING, AND ACCOUNTING MACHINE June 2, 1942.

ADDING, SUBTRACTING, AND ACCOUNTING MACHINE Filed July 11, 1956 l3 Sheets-Sheet 4 June 1942- R. w. FLETCHER 2,285,153

ADDING, SUB'IRACTING, AND ACCOUNTING MACHINE Filed July 11, 1935 13 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 2, 1942. R. w. FLETCHER ADDING, SUB'ILRALCTING, AND ACCOUNTING MACHINE Filed July 11, 1936 13 Sheets-Sheet 6 June 2, 1942. R. w. FLETCHER ADDING, SUBTRACTING, AND ACCOUN'IING MACHINE Filed July 11, 1956 13 Sheets-Sheet .7

ll-Lilll L r I I I June 2, 1942. w. FLE CHER 2,285,153

ADDING, SUB'IRACTING, AND ACCOUNTING MACHINE Filed July 11, 1936 13 Sheets-Sheet 8 UM Z se, 7

June 942. R. w. FLETCHER 85,153

ADDING, SUBTRACTING, AND ACCOUNTING MACHINE Filed July 11, 1936 13 Sheets-Sheet 9 June 2, 1942. R. WJFLETCHER 2,235,153

ADDING, SUBTRACTING, AND ACCOUNTING momma Filed July 11, 1936 13 Sheets-Sheet 10 m l I/F'lefdvel;

CJOGOO-OCOO 1942. R. w. FLETCHER 2,235,153

ADDING, SUBTRACTING, AND ACCOUNTING MACHINE Filed July 11, 1956 13 Sheets-Sheet 11 0- O O O 0 j I June 1942- R. w. FLETCHER 2,285,153

ADDING, SUBTRACTING, AND ACCOUNTING MACHINE Filed July 11, 1936 13 Sheets-Sheet 12 c/D 661% 7 My Fgm Mas June 2, 1942. R. w. FLETCHER ADDING, SUBTRACTING, AND ACCOUNTING MACHINE Filed July 11, 1936 13 Sheets-Sheet 13 Patented June 2, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADDING, SUBTRACTING, AND ACCOUNTING MACHINE Claims.

The primary object of my machine is to bring together into single sums under their proper designation all items belonging to each individual class or group, when the items for any such particular group or class appear at irregular intervals in a long list containing dissimilar entries, without the necessity of dealing consecutively with the items embraced in a particular group.

Another object of my invention is to provide a machine which is capable of cumulating progressively all amounts without differentiation as between classes or groups to which they belong, so that the amounts brought together separately according to group or class will be made into a common total, while the individual amounts making up such common total will simultaneously be brought together under their proper class or group designation and embraced in the total therefor.

A further object of my machine is to provide a master unit which may be connected with a plurality of recording units in such manner that one master unit may be utilized with any number of registering units. While there would be no physical limitation as to the number of registering units that could be connected to one master unit, an economic limitation might be imposed from the point of view of an enlarged investment and a less frequent use of registering units, on the one hand, and the added cost of an additional operator to operate the second master unit and its associated registering units, on the other hand. It is not impracticable to have one master unit associated with more than a thousand registering units.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a plan View of the master unit;

Fig, 2 is a side elevation of the master unit (right side) Fig. 2a is an enlarged fragmentary detail of the driving gear;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation;

Fig. 4 is an irregular longitudinal vertical cross section on the line 4--4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical cross section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig, 6 is a longitudinal vertical cross section on the line 66 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is an irregular transverse vertical cross section on the line 7-! of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary horizontal cross section of the printing tape carrier;

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal vertical cross section on the line 9-9 of Fig.

Fig, 10 is an enlarged detail of a switch and a circuit maker and breaker in front elevation;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged detail of the switch and the circuit maker and breaker in side elevation (looking from the left side);

Fig. 12 is an enlarged detail of the triple contact switch in rear elevation;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged detail of the triple con tact switch in side elevation (looking from the left side);

Fig. 14 is a transverse vertical cross section on the line l4-l4 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a longitudinal vertical cross section on the line I5l5 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 16 is an enlarged perspective of the printing wheel guiding block, shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 17 is a plan view of my preferred form of registering unit;

Fig. 18 is a front elevation of my preferred form of registering unit;

Fig. 19 is a longitudinal vertical cross section on the line |9l9 of Fig. 17;

Fig. 20 is an enlarged detailed longitudinal cross section on the line 2il20 of Fig. 17;

Fig. 21 is an enlarged detailed longitudinal vertical cross section on the line 2l2l of Fig. 17

Fig. 22 is a plan view of another form of registering unit;

Fig. 23 is an enlarged detailed longitudinal vertical cross section on the line 23-23 of Fig. 22;

Fig, 24 is an enlarged detailed longitudinal vertical cross section on the line 2424 of Fig. 22;

Fig. 25 is a diagrammatic wiring plan of the master unit;

Fig. 26 is a diagrammatic wiring plan of both my preferred form and modified form of registering units; and

Fig. 2'7 is a diagrammatic wiring plan of the master unit and the preferred form of registering unit.

Master unit The master unit is provided with a set of keys 2, bearing the numbers 1 to 9, inclusive, and zero. These keys are adapted to be depressed, one at a time, by an operator who is transposing figures, whether they are to be added, subtracted, or otherwise tabulated in an accounting operation.

The speed at Which the keys 2 may be depressed by the operator and allowed to return to normal position is controlled by a chain of gears, rotated at a predetermined speed by the electric motor 4, preferably adapted for the use of either alternating or direct current.

The electric motor 4 is provided with a worm 6, which meshes in customary fashionwith worm wheel 8, which worm wheel 8 is keyed or otherwise secured to a shaft if held in position by suitable bearings secured to the motor 4. A gear I2 is suitably secured to the shaft Iii, in position to mesh with the small gear l4 mounted upon an independent shaft i=5, secured in proper position n the housing for the chain of gears above referred to.

Secured to the shaft it, I provide a special gear IT having on the side thereof closest to the gear M, a single tooth 18, which is adapted to engage with each revolution of the shaft [5, one tooth of the gear 26 and to turn the gear 21] in a clockwise direction (as viewed in Figs; 2 and 4). The portion of'this gear l! remote from the gear [4 is provided with an enlarged round surface 22, which is convex with the exception of the small. notch 24, which notched portion 24 is in alignment with the tooth I8. As the motor 4 rotates and consequently rotates the shaft 16, the round portion 22 is allowed to revolve in the recesses 26 of the wheel 28, until the tooth M has again come into contact with the gear wheel 20, thus imparting a step-by-step motion to the gear ,1

It will be understood that the gear ly in a step-by-step manner, as described above.

The notched wheel 28 and the gear wheel 22'] are supported on a suitable shaft 32 to which is secured a gear 34, which meshes with a gear 36 to drive the ratchet gear 38 in a counter-clockwise direction. On the opposite side of the 1*:

ratchet wheel 3-8 from the gear 35, I provide a gear 40 which meshes with a gear 42, the same size as the gear 48, and is secured to the shaft on which the ratchet wheel 44 is mounted. Thus the ratchet wheels 38 and 44, which are of the 1 same diameter, will rotate in opposite directions at equal speed.

The keys 2 are all pivoted on a common shaft 46 and are each provided with a segment gear 48, which segment gear 48 is adapted to engage the elongated gear 50, which is mounted on a suitable shaft 52 (see Fig. 6).

Each of the keys 2 is provided with a projecting lug 54 which, when a key is depressed, is

adapted to push upwardly on the transverse plate 56 which is pivotally secured b the elongated pivot pin 58 to suitable supporting framework. The transverse plate 56 is held in a downward position, as shown in Fig. 6, by a strong spring 60. An independent transverse plate 82 is also pivoted on the pivot pin 58 and is pressed upwardly into engagement with the set screw 64 by a spring 56, which spring is weaker than the spring 60.

As any numeral key 2 is depressed, the transverse plate 56 is raised by the projection 55, and the transverse plate 62 remains in a plane parallel to the transverse plate 56 until it is engaged against the pins 68 on the side wall supporting framework. When the transverse plate 62 isin position engaging the pins 68, the end of the transverse plate 62 remote from. the pivot pin 58 will'be in such a position as to engage any of the projecting lugs 54 of the keys 2, if an attempt is made to depress any other, key. By this mechanism, I have provided a locking means which makes it impossible to depress a, second key until after the first key, which has previously been depressed, has returned to, its nor.-

mal position. y f

*be forced downwardly Each of the keys 2 is provided with an upstanding lug 10, to which is fastened a spring 12 extending to a suitable cross bar 14 mounted on the supporting framework. Each of the lugs 10 is likewise provided with a set screw 16 which is adapted to come into contact with the fingers T8, adjustabl secured to the cross shaft 8!), and to rock the cross shaft in a clockwise direction (as viewed in Fig, 6) when the numeral key 2 has reached a point close to the end of its downward stroke. Stops 82 are positioned on a suitable cross bar 84 so that the keys z may not more than a proper distance. j r

The shaft 52 extends outwardly from both ends of. the elongated gear 50, and on the right hand end thereof is secured an arm 86, which arm is positioned approximately upwardly. To the end of the arm 86, remote from the end which is secured to the shaft 52, a short transverse shaft 88 is secured, and on which shaft are pivoted pawls 90 and 92. The pawl 90 is adapted to engage the ratchet gear 38 and the pawl 92 engages the ratchet 44. These pawls 9i) and 92 are held in engagement with the ratchets 38 and 44- by suitable springs 9| and 93 positioned between the pawls and the arm 86.

It will be seen that as the gear wheel 20 is rotated in a clockwise direction, the ratchet 38 will rotate in a counter-clockwise direction, while the ratchet 44- rotates at the same rate of speed as. the ratchet 38 in a clockwise direction. Thus, when the motor is running, both the pawl 90 and 92 will normally ride over the teeth of the ratchets 3S and 44*. When anyone of the keys 2 is depressed, the elongated gear 50, and consequently the shaft 52 will be revolved in a clockwise direction (as viewed in Figs 2, 4, 5 and 6) and thus the pawls 90 and 92 will be moved to the right as viewed in Figs. 2 and 4) or toward the back of the machine. As a key 2 is depressed the pawl 92 will be in engagement with a tooth of the ratchet 44, and consequently the key cannot be depressed faster than a predetermined speed, this being necessary in view of the fact that the electro-magnets of the registering units, which will be more fully described hereinafter, are unable to operate under their load faster than a predetermined speed.

After a 'key 2 has been depressed and is released'by the operator, it begins to return to its normalposition, but thespeed of the return is regulated by the engagement of the pawl 90 with one of the teeth of the ratchet 38 which, as described above, is rotating at a predetermined speed.

On the left hand end ofthe shaft 52; the end remote from the arm 86 and the pawls 90.and 92, I provide a suitable rocker 94', preferably made of insulating material (particularly illustrated in Figs. 9, l0 and 11). secured to the end of the shaft 52 and is provided with a coiled' spring 96 which tends to return the rocker and the shaft 52 to their normal position, (as shown in Figs. 9 and 11).

The rocker $4 is provided with arcuate edges on which are mounted suitable contact. platesj98 and let]. These contact plat'es 93 and H30. are

divided so' that on the peripheral edge of the arcuate plates there are five distinct contact surfaces which will engage the fixed brushes I02 and I534, as the rocker E lis rotated by the depression and the release of the keys 2. The contact points on the plate. 98 are slightly larger than the points on the plate 100; These con- This rocker 94 is tacts 98 are made slightly larger than the contacts I so that the pulsations of 3.5 volt current transmitted through the contacts 98 and the brush I92 to the relay may be held slightly longer than the contact made by the contact plate I00 and the brush I04, through which 12 volt current is transmitted to the registering dials.

A segmental gear I06 is secured to the shaft 52. so that as the shaft 52 is rotated the segmental gear I36 will be swung through an are. This segmental gear I06 is engaged with a small pinion gear I08 mounted on the shaft III], to the other end of which a gear III is secured. A gear H2, supported by the short shaft H3 is positioned to be in mesh with the gear I I I. This short shaft I I3 not only supports the gear H2 but is also the pivot point for a substantially L-shape arm H4, which arm carries the gear wheels H5 and H6, and the printing wheel H8, which printing wheel is secured to and revolves with the gear H5. The L-shape arm H4 is provided with a covering I positioned over the printing wheel and the gear H6, the covering !20 being adapted to receive a blow from a solenoid operated hammer, which will be more fully described hereinafter.

The printing wheel I I8 is provided with typing surfaces bearing the numbers 1 to 9, and zero.

In alignment with each of the printing surfaces,

I provide small transverse pins I22, which are adapted to become engaged in the V-shaped socket 524, when the covering I20 on the end of the L-shape arm H4 is struck by an electric hammer. Thus, the type set on the printing wheel I 53 will be properly positioned to print on the printing tape, the operation of which will be described more fully hereinafter.

On the right-hand end of the shaft 80, I secure an arm I28 which extends from the shaft 80 toward the rear of the machine, the end of the arm [2% being positioned over a switch I28, the contact points or" which are normally open. When any key 2 is depressed and reaches the bottom of its stroke, its set screw I6 comes into contact with its properly adjusted finger I8 and turns the shaft 80 slightly, which forces the end of the arm E20, over the switch I28, downwardly, making a contact between the points of the switch I23, and connecting an electric circuit with the wires I33 extending to a solenoid hammer I32, mounted over the printing wheel H8. When in a normal position the soft iron core I34 and the brass striker I35 of the solenoid hammer plunger are held in an upward position (as shown in Fig. 6) by a suitable spring I36, which is attached to the plunger and to a suitable upstanding inverted L-shaped arm After a numeral key has been depressed, and consequently the printing wheel H8 has been turned so that the proper type is at the bottom thereof, when the key has reached the end of its downward stroke, the switch I28 is closed and the solenoid hammer I32 is energized, and thus the soft iron core I34 is drawn sharply downward and the brass striker I35 strikes the cover I20 of the L-shape arm H4, and a figure corresponding to the figure on the depressed key is printed on the printing tape. The plunger of the solenoid hammer I32 is immediately released and is pulled to its normal position by the spring I36 as soon as the numeral key is released and starts on its return to normal position.

As a key 2 is depressed, the shaft 52 will be rotated in a clockwise direction (as viewed in pivoted trigger I54.

Fig. 9) and the rocker 94 will be turned and will raise the contact plate I00 and lower the contact plate 93. As the positions of these contact plates 98 and I00 are changed, the brushes I02 and IE4 will make and break electrical circuits as they come into and go out of engagement with the five contact points of the contact elements 98 and I00. For example, if a numeral key 2 representing the figure 8 is depressed, on the downward motion of the key the shaft 52, and consequently the rocker 94, will be rotated so that the brushes I02 and I04 will pass four of the contact points and come to rest at the bottom of the downward stroke on an insulating section. Thus four contacts will have been made and broken on the downward stroke of the nu meral key, and as the numeral key returns to normal position, the brushes I02 and. I04 will again pass over four of the contact points and thus make and break electrical circuits another four times. The result will be that by the depression and release of a numeral key 2 representing the figure 8, eight electrical pulsations will have been made and will have gone to the proper registering unit of the machine, which will be described more fully hereinafter.

If a key 2 representing the figure 5 is depressed, the rotation of the shaft 52 and the rocker 94 will be the same as described above, but on the down stroke of the key only two contact points will pass the brushes I02 and I04, and the third contact point will be engaged with the brushes at the completion of the downward stroke, and three electric contacts will have been I made. On the return stroke of the key, the brushes will pass only two contact points and thus only two electric contacts will be made, making a total of five.

To the left of the rocker 94, I provide a switch which completes a circuit each time any key 2 is depressed. This switch (completing the circuit to energize an electro-magnet for operating an independent switch which will be more fully described hereinafter) is operated at the very beginning of the down stroke of each key. The two electrodes I40 and I 42 of the switch are positioned substantially vertically from the base plate on which the entire master unit is mounted.

While I illustrate these electrodes I 40 and I42 slightly bent in the manner disclosed more particularly in Figs. 7 and 10, it will be obvious that the exact configuration of these electrodes may be modified and yet be capable of operatin in the desired manner. An upstanding support I44, which support is adapted to position a pivoted lever I46, which is provided at the end thereof which comes into contact with the electrode I42, with an insulated portion I48, and with a depending arm I50, to the end of which is attached a suitable spring I52 for normally returning the lever I45 to the position shown in Figs. 7 and 10, and for holding the arm I against the stud I5I, which position will allow the electrodes I40 and I42 to spring apart by their own inherent resiliency.

The rocker 9 1, at the end thereof on which the contact plate I is mounted, is provided on the upper edge thereof with a laterally extending arm I49 which is provided with a horizontally The trigger I54 is adapted to slide under th pivoted lever I45 when the rocker 94 assumes its normal or starting position (see Figs. 1, 9, l0 and 11). As the rocker 94 is swung through its are by the depression of any of the keys 2, the arm I49 is raised by the rocker .the pivoted bar I84.

94 and thetrigger I54, being in its proper position under the lever I46, raises the lever I46 against the tension of the spring. I52 and the insulated end I48 thereof will be forced downwardly and against the electrode I42, thus bringing the electrode I42 into momentary contact with the electrode I49 to complete the electric circuit to the electro-magnet referred to above. After this contact has been made, the trigger I64 slips past the lever I46 which immediately returns to its normal position (as shown in Fig.

After a key 2 has been depressed and has returned to its normal position, the rocker 94 has also returned to its normal position. As the trigger I54 comes into contact with the lever I46 (which has already returned to its normal, position), the trigger the pivots on its pivot pin I56 against the action of the comparatively weak spring I58, and again assumes its proper position under the lever 46 in readiness for a second operation;

Printing mechanism .The printing tape carriage is provided with two upstanding side walls the, which are spaced apart at their front edges by a toothed bar I62, and at the rear edges thereof by a suitable spac ing bar I64 which is provided with a ball bearing I65 to partially support and steady the printing carriage. The side walls I66 support a suitable platen I66 and feeding rollers I66 and I18 for feeding the printing tape I 6! from the supply roll I63, which will be more fully described hereinafter.

A rack bar I72 is attached near the base of one side wall I66, and extending to the right of the machine to be engaged by the quadrant gear I14. This quadrant gear I14 i free on'the shaft I16, which shaft extends from the quadrant gear I14, both forward and backward. A pin I11 secured to the shaft cooperates with a pin I19 on the segment to move the latter in one direction against the tension of a spring H5, which has one end secured to the pin I? 9, and the other to a fixed support, and which tends to move it in' the other direction. On the forward end of the shaft I16, I secure a suitable spring retracted lever I18 which is provided at the end thereof with an outwardly extending handle I69. In operation, by depressing the handle I68, the lever I18 is forced downwardly and the shaft 16 is rotated in a clockwise direction (looking from the front of the machine) and thus the quadrant gear I14 is rocked and the rack bar I12 is forced to the left, thereby forcing the printing tape carriage to the left where it is held by one of the upper teeth in the toothed bar I62, which has come into engagement with a depending tooth I62 on Another pivoted bar I86 is positioned beneath the toothed bar I62 and is provided with one upstanding tooth I88 which is in position to engage a tooth of the lower set of teeth on the toothed bar I62. (It is to be understood that Fig. 7, which shows the tooth I88 in engagement with the toothed bar I62 and the tooth I82 out of engagement, is'a figure which represents the'printing. tape carriage after it has been moved through three complete operations).

These pivoted bars I84 and I86 are suitably pivoted to the upstanding post 2I4 at the ends thereof in proximity to the quadrant gear I14 and are drawn together by a suitable spring I .pivot on the shaft 46. tion to ride over and depress the shaft 232,which The mechanism for feeding the printing tape is shown particularly in Figs. 6 and 8. Under the printing tape carriage, I provide a pivoted arm I90'which is provided on one side with a cam lobe I 92 in position to be engaged by the arm I94. The arm I94 is pivoted outside of' the printing roller carriage by the pivot pin I96, and is provided with a small upstanding lug I98 which is adapted to be struck by the side wall I60 when the printing carriage is moved to its extreme left or starting position bythe depression of the handle I80. As the upstanding lug I98 is struck and the arm I94 pivots on its pivot pin I96, the arm I94 comes into contact with the cam lobe I92 of the arm I90, and moves the arm I90 toward the rear of the machine, against the action of the spring 200, and forces the downwardly extending projection 202 of the pivoted pawl carriage 204, toward the rear of the machine;

The pawl carriage 204 carries the pawl 296 which is pivoted thereto and held in engagement by a suitable spring 201 with the ratchet 298, which ratchet is secured on the same shaft with the feed roller. I10. I provide a locking pawl 2I0 which is held by a suitable spring 2 I I in engagement with the ratchet 208, to hold the ratchet 208 between operations of the pawl 206. The printing tape I6I is fed between the feed rollers I68 and no, and thus as the roller no is rotated by the pawl 206, the tape I6I is pulled over the platen I 66 to present a new surface to be printed upon.

A suitable inked-ribbon roller 2I2 is held in adjustable position on the upstanding post 2I4 by the thumb screw 2I6 and the spring 2I8 secured on the shaft 2I9. The ribbon from the roller 2I2 extends transversely across the platen I66, above the printing tape I6I, and is engaged on the winding roller 220, to which is secured a ratchet 222 which is adapted to be actuated step-by-step by the pawl 224. The pawl 224 is held by a suitable spring 225 in engagement with a ratchet 222, and is pivoted to a suitable arm 22 6' pivotally mounted on the post 221 and is held in the position shown in Fig. 7, by a suitable step as the keys 2 are depressed,'each key being.

provided with a cam lobe 230 near its point of This cam 23!] is in posishaft is normally held in the position shown in Fig. 6, by the spring 234. The shaft 232 extends transversely of the machine and is pivotally secured in position by the link 236 on the right side of the machine pivoted at 231 and by the pivotallymounted arm 238 on the left side of the machine pivoted at 239.

, The arm 238 extends toward the printing tape carriage and. the end thereof is positioned beneath the arm 248 which is rigidly secured to a collar 242 mounted on a suitable pivot pin, and which collar is also rigidly secured to the cam I81. Thus the arm 240 and the cam I81 form,

in effect, a bell crank. The arm 240 is normally held down in the position shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, by the spring 244, and is raised by the upward movement of the lever 238, each time a key is depressed. The raising of the lever 2 38 and the arm 240 thus changes the position of the cam I81 to force the pivoted bar I86 downwardly and consequently to release the tooth I88 from engagement with the toothed bar I62, and to allow the carriage to move until the depending tooth I82 on the pivoted bar I84 becomes engaged with a tooth on the upper side of the toothed bar I62, which bar I84 is pulled downwardly by the spring I85. This is effected just before the key 2 has reached the lowest point of depression and the contact is made by the switch I28 to make the electrical connection to energize the solenoid hammer I32. As the key 2 is released and is returned to its normal position, the lever 238, the arm 246, and the cam I81 will resume the position shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, and thus the tooth I88 of the pivoted bar I86 will again become engaged with a tooth on the lower side of the toothed bar I62, and at the same time the cam I81 will force the pivoted bar I84 upwardly to disengage the tooth I82 from a tooth on the upper edge of the toothed bar I62.

Registering unit digit selecting switch On the rear end of the shaft I16, I provide a gear wheel 246, which gear is held free on the shaft I16 by a suitable collar 241, so that the gear 246 may rotate on the shaft I16 when the shaft does not rotate. The rack bar 248 is supported and held in engagement with the gear 246 by a suitable block 256 which is provided with lateral guides 252. On the side of the gear wheel 246 closest to the mainmechanism, I provide a stud 254, which stud is adapted to be engaged by the lug 256 secured to the shaft I16. Thus when the handle I86 is depressed and the shaft I16 is rotated to force the printing tape carriage into its left or starting position, the lug 256 will engage the stud 254 and rotate the gear 246, which in turn will shift the rack bar 248 to the right (as viewed in Fig. 3).

The end of the rack bar 248 remote from the gear wheel 246, is supported by a suitable block 258, which block is provided with upstanding flanges to afford lateral support for the rack bar 248. At a point approximately above the block 258, a gear wheel 266 is properly meshed with the teeth on the rack bar 248. This gear wheel 266 is suitably secured to a short shaft 262, which shaft is properly supported by suitable uprights 263 and 264.

The ratchet 266 and 266, and a suitable drum of insulating material 216, are all secured to the shaft 262 and rotate therewith. The ratchet 266, and the gear wheel 266 are positioned on one side of the upright 264 and the ratchet 268 and the drum 216 are positioned on the opposite side thereof. As I have illustrated (more particularly in Figs. 13 and 15), I have made the ratchet 266 and the gear wheel 266 in one integral piece, but it will be understood that these two elements may be independent and adapted to be secured to the shaft 262 by any suitable means.

The pawl 212 is pivotally secured to the pivoted bar 214, which bar is properly positioned to be attracted by a magnet 216, which magnet is electrically connected with the electrodes I46 and I42, the action of which has been described above. The pawl 212 is held in engagement with the ratchet 268 by a spring 218, which spring is secured to a suitable arm 286 extending from the upright 264. The tension of the spring 218 not only holds the pawl 212 downward and in engagement with the ratchet 268, but also tends to return the bar 214 to its normal position out of engagement with the magnet 216, as soon as the electric connection with the magnet has been broken.

An independent pawl 282 is also pivotally secured to the bar 274 at the same pivot point as the pawl 212. This pawl 282 is adapted to engage the ratchet 266 after the magnet 216 has been energized and the pawl 212 has rotated the shaft 262 through a predetermined portion of a revolution. The engagement with the ratchet 266 is efiected by the pawl 282 advancing and being held on an approximately horizontal plane by the track 284 which is suitably secured to the upright 264. On the end of the track 284 nearest to the magnet 2T6, I provide an arm 286 and a guide 236 to laterally support the pawl 282 and prevent it from sliding off of the track 284. A suitable spring 296 is secured to the pawl 262 and the arm 286, and tends to pull the pawl 282 downwardly, keeping it in proper contact with the track 284.

The drum 216 is provided with three lugs 292, 294, and 296, which are positioned so that they will engage the switches 291, 298, and 299, respectively, as the drum 216 is rotated step-by step by the magnet 216, as described above.

- These switches 291, 268, and 299 are electrically connected, respectively, with the numeral discs in the registering units of the units, tens, and hundreds digits, all of which will be more fully described hereinafter. As shown in Figs. 12 and 14, the two electrodes of the switch 299 are in contact and thus the hundreds digit registering dial is in a completed circuit with the contact plates 98 and I66 and their fixed brushes I62 and I64. (The switch 289 is shown in a contacted position purely arbitrarily, as is the showing of the mechanism of the master unit in position for the third operation.)

It will be noted as shown in Figs. 12 and 13, that the teeth of the ratchets 266 and 268 face in opposite directions. In explanation of this arrangement, it is pointed out that the pawl 212 and the ratchet 268 are the means for rotating the drum 216, and that the pawl 282 and the ratchet 266 serve as stop mechanism against further motion of the drum in connection with each step-by-step operation; and that through the combination of the pawl and ratchet activities the lugs 292, 294, and 296 on the drum 216 are brought into, and held successively in proper alignment for the closing of, and holding, the contacts 291291, 298-296', and 299-299.

The operation of this switch is as follows:

When the handle I86 is pressed downwardly to place the mechanism in starting position, the gear wheel 246 is rotated, thus moving the rack bar 248, which in turn rotates the gear wheel 266, afiixed to the shaft 262, and consequently the drum 216. When the mechanism is in its initial position, the lug 292 will be in a position so that when the electrodes I46 and I42 momentarily are connected, the electro-magnet 216 will be energized and the bar 214 pulled toward the magnet, thus advancing the pawls 212 and 282, which engage respectively the ratchets 268 and 266, and consequently turn the drum 216 a predetermined distance so that the lug 292 will press one electrode of the switch 291 to complete a circuit to the units digit numeral disc. The next time a key 2 is depressed, the electrodes I46 and I42 will again momentarily complete a circuit to energize the magnet 216, and thus the drum 216 will again be advanced a predetermined distance and the lug 292 will disengage the switch 291 while the lug 264 engages the switch 293 and completes a circuit to the tens digit numeral disc. The same operation as described above also takes place for the lug 266 which connects a circuit through the switch 269 as the lug 294 becomes disengaged from the switch 298, and thus through the switch 299, the hundreds digit numeral disc will be connected in an electric circuit.

, It may be stated at this juncture that while I have illustrated and described mechanism for operating only on three digit numbers, it will be understood that numbers involving any number of digits may be provided for by merely elongating the drum 210, and providing the desired number of switches similar to the switches 291, 298, and 299. when numbers containing more digits are to be handled, it will be necessary also to increase the length of the printing tape carriage, and its associated mechanism, the carriage illustrated and described being adapted for three digit numbersonly.

Registering units I have shown in Figs. 17 to 21, inclusive, my preferred form of registering unit, the mechanism thereof being mounted on a suitable base 360, which base is provided with a front or face plate 382, in which I provide a plurality of openings, or windows 304, through which the figures on the numeral dials 306 may be seen. It may be stated at this time that while I have'shown only three numeral dials 366, and their associated operating mechanism, it will be understood that any number of these dials may be utilized, the number of dialsbeing dependent upon the number of digits in the figures being added, subtracted, or otherwise tabulated.

Each of the dials 306 are independently supported on short shafts 308, which shafts are supported by uprights 3|0, suitably mounted on the base plate 306. I also secure ratchets 3l2 and 3l4'to the shafts 308. These ratchets 3| 2 and 3M may be made either integral or individually, the teeth of the two ratchets facing in opposite directions. Both of the ratchets 3l2 and 314 are secured to the shaft 308 and consequently rotate with the .shaft. I also secure a star wheel 3l6 to each of the shafts 308 and a knurled wheel 3I8, the purpose of both of which will be described hereinafter. It will be understood that as the shaft 308 revolves, the ratchets 3l2 and 3l4,,the star wheel 316, the knurled wheel 3H3, and the dials 306 all revolve with it.

To rotate each of the shafts 368, I provide electromagnets U320, T326, and H326, which are provided with suitable pivoted bars 322, normally held out of engagement with the magnets by suitable springs 324. Near the end of the bars 322, remote from the pivot points thereof, I pivotally secure the pawl arms 326 and rocking arms At the end of the pawl arms 326, remote from the pivot by which they are at ached to the bars 322, I provide pawls 333, which engage the ratchets 3l2. On the arms 326, approximately midway between the pawls 336 and the point of pivotal connection with the bars 322, I provide downwardly extending arms 332, to which are pivotally secured pawls 334 which are drawn toward the pawls by springs 336.

' The pawls and 334 are positioned to straddle cams 338 which are mounted on the shaft 343, which shaft extends through each of the. several registering units so that as the shaft 340 is rotated, each of the cams 338 positioned between It will also be understood that the pawls 330 and 334 'of the independent registering units will be turned. The cams 338 are provided with two flat surfaces 342 and 344, be-

tween the ends of which is positioned a high lobe 346, The springs 336 keep the pawls 330 and 334 in contact with the cams 338 so that either the pawl 330 will be in engagement withthe ratchet 312 or the pawl 334 will be in engagement with the ratchet 3l4.

As shown in Figs. 19, 20 and 21, the pawl 330 is resting on the flat surface 344, while the pawl 334 is engaged on a portion of the high lobe 346 of the cam 338, and consequently the pawl 333 is pulled by the spring 336 into engagement with the ratchet M2, and the pawl 334 is held out of engagement with the ratchet 3-l4 by the lobe 346 of the cam 338.

To one end of the shaft 340, I secure a suitable knob or handle 348 which may be readily'turned a limited distance, the distance .beinglimite'd by the stud 350 which extends outwardly from the shaft 340, and is adapted to come into engagement with suitable lugs 352 and 353 which are positioned to stop'the turning of the shaft 340 at a time when the flat surface 342 or 344 are in proper position to allow either the pawl 334 or the pawl 330 to be in position to engage either the ratchet 3|4 or 312, respectively.

When the pawl 330 is in position to engage the ratchet gear 3i2, any operation of the electro-magnet 320 will pull the pawl toward the face plate 362,.and consequently will move the dial 366 one step, thus changing the number showing through the window 304 to onedigit the fiat surface 342 on the cam 338 will permit the pawl 334 to come into engagement with the ratchet 3l4, the result of which will be that on .the actuation of the electro-magnet 320, the pawl 334 will engage the ratchet 314, and turn the registering dial 366 in a clockwise direction (as viewed in Figs. 19 to 21) and consequently change the number showing through the window 304 to a number one lower than the number previously displayed.

To the rocking arm 328, at the end thereof remote from the pivoted bar 322, I provide a pivoted dog 354, which dog is provided withtwo substantially rounded ends for engagement with the concave'surfaces 356 of the star wheel 3l6. The dog 354 is also pivoted to one arm 35'! of a substantially V-shaped bell-crank 358, which is normally held in the position shown in Figs. 19 and 20, by the spring 360, and is pivoted at the apex thereof on the short shaft 362. The other arm 364 of the V-shaped bell-crank 358 is adapted' to engage the shaft 366 and hold the shaft 366, and its attached knurled wheel 368, in the position shown in Figs. 20 and 21, and out of engagement with the knurled wheel 3I8. (It will be understood that a bell-crank 358 and its associated mechanism will be aflixed in the above described manner to each registering unit).

On the shaft 3'16, which extends through all of the registering units, I provide at any convenien point a rocking arm 312, which is provided at the end thereof away from the registering unit with a suitable key 3, and is adapted to engage the shaft 366 at the oher end thereof. Thus, by depressing the key 314 the shaft 366 will be raised and the knurled wheels 368 will be rought into registry with the knurled wheels 316 as the dogs 354 are removed from engagement with the concave surfaces 356 of the star wheels 356. The knurled wheels 3i8 are each provided with a concave portion 316, the curvature of which is equal to the curvature of its registering knurled wheel 368, and into which the knurled wheel 368 is forced after it has revolved its registering knurled wheel 318 until the concave surface 316 is brought into registry with the knurled wheel 368. Thus it will be seen that when it is desirable to turn the registering dial 366 back to a starting position or a zero setting, the key 314 may be depressed and the shaft 366 revolved by engaging and turning a suitable knob 361, secured to the end thereof, until the knurled wheels 368 come into registry with the concave portions 316 of the knurled wheels 318, at which time the shaft 366 will revolve freely and all of the registering dials 366 will be in such position that the figure zero appears through the windows 364. After this zero setting is obtained, pressure is released from the key 314 and by the tension of the spring 366, the mechanism is returned to the position shown in Figs. 19 and 20, and the registering dials are again in proper position for operation.

It will be understood that while I have shown only manual means for obtaining a zero setting of the above described registering unit, mechanical or electrical means may readily be provided. One simple means of obtaining such a result would be to properly position an electromagnet in relation to the rocking arm 312 so that at the desired time the rocking arm may be pivoted on the shaft 316 to raise the shaft 366 and place the knurled wheels 368 into engagement with the knurled wheels 318; and by attaching a suitable electric motor to the shaft 366 in place of the knob 361. With such an arrangement it would be obvious that by the use of the necessary conventional electric connections the electro-magnet may be energized to place the knurled wheels 318 and 368 in mesh. After this is done, a suitable electric motor may be started to revolve the shaft 363 until at least after the knurled wheels 368 have come into registry with the concave portions 316 of the knurled wheels 318, at which time a zero setting will have been obtained.

Carry over mechanism Each registering dial 366 is provided with a contact point 318, which extends through the insulating material of which the dial 366 is made at a point approximately in registry with the number 2. Thus the contact point 318 will come into registry with the contacts 386 and 362 and make an electric circuit to energize a relay, which will be more fully described hereinafter, at the time that the dial 366 is changing from the number 9 to zero, as viewed through the window 364.

In the modified form of registering unit shown in Figs. 22, 23, and 24, I have shown substantially different mechanism for operating dials similar to those shown in Figs. 17-22.

For this modified form of registering unit, I provide a suitable base 381 to which is secured a suitable face plate 382, which is provided with windows 384 through which the numbers on the register dials 336 may be seen. The register dials 366 are supported on suitable upright plates 368 upstanding from the base 381.

The short shafts 396 on which the dials 386 are secured, are provided with ratchets 392 and 394, the teeth of which face in opposite directions.

An electro-magnet 396 is suitably secured to the base 368 in alignment with the register dial 386. The electro-magnet 396 is provided with a conventional pivoted bar 398 properly positioned to be attracted by the electro-magnet, but normally held away therefrom by the spring 399. To the magnet bar 368 is pivotally secured an especially constructed pawl 466 which is provided with a depending arm 462, to which is pivoted a pawl 464. The pawls 466 and 464 are pulled together by the spring 466.

Extending through each of the registering units I provide a shaft 466, to which are secured cams 469, each of which is provided with flat surfaces 416 and 412, and a high lobe 414. As shown in Fig. 23, the jawl 466 rides on the flat surface 416, thus allowing the point of the pawl to be in position to engage the ratchet 362 on the actuation of the electro-magnet 396. While the pawl 466 is in the position shown in Fig. 23, the pawl 464 is engaged on the high lobe 414, and the point thereof is therefore kept out of contact with the ratchet 364.

A ratchet stop 416 is pivoted to the upright plate 368 and is normally held in the position shown in Fig. 23, abutting a stud 418, by the spring 426. The stop 416 is provided with a shoulder 422 at the end thereof remote from the pivot point, which shoulder 422 is adapted to be engaged by the lug 424 on the pawl 466 when the pa '1 is advanced by the actuation of the electromagnet 396. The stop 416 is positioned so that when the pawl 436 is advanced, the stop will be advanced and brought into contact with a tooth of the ratchet 384 to stop the rotation of the shaft 366, and its associated mechanism.

The operation of the pawl 466, as described above, will, with each actuation of the electromagnet 396, move the register dial one step, resulting in the next higher number on the dial 386 showing through the window 384,

When a subtracting, or number diminishing, actuation is desired, the shaft 468 is turned a part of a turn in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 23, by turning a suitable handle 426 secured to one end of the shaft 466.

While I have shown only manual means whereby the operation of the registering unit may be changed from addition to subtraction, or Vice versa, it may be readily understood that a simple electrical means could be provided for turning the shaft 466. One simple form of device that could be utilized would be electro-magnets which would draw the handle 426 from one position to the other. (Similar electrical means could also be applied to the shaft 346 in place of the knob or handle 346.) By thus turning the shaft 466, the affixed cams 469 will be turned so that the pawls 466 will engage the high lobes 414 while the fiat surfaces 412 will come into alignment with the pawls 464. With the pawls 466 and 464 in this position, the pawl 466 will not engage the ratchet 362 and the pawl 464 will engage the ratchet 394.

A ratchet stop 428, similar in every respect to the ratchet stop 456 i pivoted to the upright plate 383 in position to be engaged by a lug 436 on the pawl 464 with each actuation of the electro-magnet 396. When this ratchet stop is actuated it comes into engagement with the ratchet 362 to stop the further rotation of the shaft 396. 

